Arnold Howard on wed 16 jun 99
Dear Friends:
Many ceramists use their electric kilns to dry greenware. But burning
off the moisture in a kiln requires a great deal of electric power. It
can also be hard on the kiln.
One time a woman complained to us that her kiln fired slowly. We didn't
know what the problem was until she mentioned the "ugly black water"
dripping onto the floor from the walls of her kiln. Then we knew she
was drying greenware in the kiln, which slowed the firing to a crawl.
As I understand, drying greenware in a humid climate is a problem. What
methods do you use to dry greenware in high humidity?
I would appreciate any other pointers you could share in drying
greenware before firing. This is a common problem.
Thanks,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, Inc.
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Christine Sawyer on thu 17 jun 99
I have had to use fans and a dehumidifier when it really bad outside. Don't
for get to close the windows & doors or you'll be dehumidifying the great
outdoor. Tenting the pieces under plastic along with the dehumidifier cuts
the cost. Large hardware stores(Home Depot) that sell the tall plastic
shelving usually carry a zippered plastic cover for them. You can put the
pieces to be dried in the top three shelves and the dehumidifier on the
bottom shelf. This only takes a couple of hours so watch carefully.
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: Arnold Howard
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 9:03 AM
Subject: Drying the clay before firing
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Dear Friends:
>
> Many ceramists use their electric kilns to dry greenware. But burning
> off the moisture in a kiln requires a great deal of electric power. It
> can also be hard on the kiln.
>
> One time a woman complained to us that her kiln fired slowly. We didn't
> know what the problem was until she mentioned the "ugly black water"
> dripping onto the floor from the walls of her kiln. Then we knew she
> was drying greenware in the kiln, which slowed the firing to a crawl.
>
> As I understand, drying greenware in a humid climate is a problem. What
> methods do you use to dry greenware in high humidity?
>
> I would appreciate any other pointers you could share in drying
> greenware before firing. This is a common problem.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon Industries, Inc.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
Dale A. Neese on thu 17 jun 99
I am amazed at the need to rush up a clay process, fast dry, fast fire.
fast cool. I do some production throwing but try and plan well enough in
advance to allow for slow drying and firing. If it cracks-explodes then I am
rushing the process. I have been throwing for weeks, drying the finished a
little under plastic for the first couple of days and then letting them dry
with nothing more than a fan on low circulating the air. Then I do a several
bisque firings with all the dried ware. Oh, I have placed juice tumblers,
card holders, bowls out in the sun to fast dry to fill up some vacant space
in the bisque. Some of the simple pieces without handles or attachments. I
learned some time back that you shouldn't have to start over again when some
carved candle lanterns self-destructed when exposed to uneven heat.
If I was going to want to dry something a little faster some 150 watt lights
and a small fan would help.
Dale Tex
Debby Grant on thu 17 jun 99
Hi Arnold,
The best way I know of to dry greenware is to bulid a drying cabinet.
Build a box out of wood open in the front. On the top drill a hole to
hang through an eleectric cord and socket for a reflector and infra
red bulb. The bigger the box, the more sockets and bulbs should
be hung. Place a raised rack in the box and set your pices on it.
Pieces dry very quickly this way and should be watched carefully for
warpage.
Good Luck,
Debby Grant in NH
Estelle Renberger on thu 17 jun 99
Maybe not such a good idea..but in a pinch I dry greenware in my oven!
Knox Steinbrecher on thu 17 jun 99
Hi Arnold
I have often used my gas oven to dry pots. Since the pilot light is on
anyway, I figure I am taking advantage of a situation. I will kick the heat
up to 180-200 (sorry, don't know the celcius equivalent but below boiling
temp) when I want them dryer faster.
knox....back home in Atlanta Ga where it's green, green,green and my lavender
is blooming :):):):)
Tena Payne on thu 17 jun 99
Arnold:
I live in Birmingham, Alabama. It stays quite humid here. I also work
in my basement, so drying can be a problem. I don't want things to dry
too fast, but within a week for standard items. To gently speed drying
time I store my greenware on shelves positioned near my kiln. Also,
when pots are placed on newspaper, it helps wick away moisture. I run
several fans in the studio, especially when firing.
Altho passive, it's as active as I want to get with my drying. But I
look forward to hearing what others do.
Thanx for asking.
Tena
--- Arnold Howard wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Dear Friends:
>
> Many ceramists use their electric kilns to dry
> greenware. But burning
> off the moisture in a kiln requires a great deal of
> electric power. It
> can also be hard on the kiln.
>
> One time a woman complained to us that her kiln
> fired slowly. We didn't
> know what the problem was until she mentioned the
> "ugly black water"
> dripping onto the floor from the walls of her kiln.
> Then we knew she
> was drying greenware in the kiln, which slowed the
> firing to a crawl.
>
> As I understand, drying greenware in a humid climate
> is a problem. What
> methods do you use to dry greenware in high
> humidity?
>
> I would appreciate any other pointers you could
> share in drying
> greenware before firing. This is a common problem.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon Industries, Inc.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Stephen Mills on thu 17 jun 99
Not all of us use kilns as drying cabinets. For me THE best way to de-
water anything is moving air, I use a pair of electric fans I bought in
a junk market for next to nothing, one on each side of the stuff I need
to dry switch 'em on and leave 'em. Pots dry in no time. Granted I don't
live in a high humidity area, but I'm sure moving air is the answer
wherever you are.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Arnold Howard writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Dear Friends:
>
>Many ceramists use their electric kilns to dry greenware. But burning
>off the moisture in a kiln requires a great deal of electric power. It
>can also be hard on the kiln.
>
>One time a woman complained to us that her kiln fired slowly. We didn't
>know what the problem was until she mentioned the "ugly black water"
>dripping onto the floor from the walls of her kiln. Then we knew she
>was drying greenware in the kiln, which slowed the firing to a crawl.
>
>As I understand, drying greenware in a humid climate is a problem. What
>methods do you use to dry greenware in high humidity?
>
>I would appreciate any other pointers you could share in drying
>greenware before firing. This is a common problem.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Arnold Howard
>Paragon Industries, Inc.
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Diane Woloshyn on fri 18 jun 99
Since I live in humid, moist Florida, if I need something to finish drying
(after leatherhard) I bring it into the airconditioning. Don't want to crack
things, so I don't push it before the leatherhard stage. Plates dry in the
studio, slowly.
Diane Florida Bird Lady
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